Green Mountain Power and Efficiency Vermont Announce eVolve Panton

COLCHESTER, VT--(Marketwired - August 23, 2016) - Green Mountain Power and Efficiency Vermont are partnering on a community-wide rapid energy transformation project in Panton to reduce energy costs, lower fossil fuel use and improve comfort. Known as eVolve Panton, the effort will put Panton at the forefront of energy innovation in Vermont as the first town to know its total energy use, cost and carbon impact, giving it the ability to track energy and carbon-saving improvements.

"When communities and energy providers work together, powerful things can happen," said Mary Powell, President and CEO of Green Mountain Power. "We will accomplish in 12 months what would otherwise take 20 years, and when we are done, the people of Panton will have transformed their energy system into one that is more reliable, efficient and affordable."

"This partnership will show that we are stronger working together to benefit Vermonters," said Scott Johnstone, the Executive Director of the Vermont Energy Investment Corporation. "We are so excited to begin this innovative work in Panton, and to bring it to other communities across Vermont."

Green Mountain Power and Efficiency Vermont will work with local residents and businesses to get baseline data about energy use, cost and carbon and use the data to measure improvements. Residents will be offered technical assistance, financial incentives and financing to spur a dramatic and comprehensive energy transformation in Panton.

"Vermonters have long embraced energy efficiency," said Liz Gamache, Director of Efficiency Vermont. "But never before has there been such an intensive effort to help everyone in the community save energy and save money, helping to reduce carbon throughout the community and transform our energy future."

GMP and Efficiency Vermont will also partner with contractors to offer deep energy retrofits for homes and businesses, the addition of efficient heating and cooling systems like cold climate heat pumps, innovative technologies like battery storage, installation of renewable energy generation, and adoption of efficient transportation solutions. Both organizations say this program is the first of its kind in Vermont and Panton will serve as the pilot where strategies are tested to create rapid and lasting change.

"This is an exciting opportunity that Green Mountain Power and Efficiency Vermont have brought to our town," said Howard Hall, a Selectboard member in Panton. "Helping to transform energy use and saving money for everyone in town is energizing our community to get involved and make a difference."

About Green Mountain Power Green Mountain Power (GMP) serves approximately 265,000 residential and business customers in Vermont and has a vision to be the best small company in America by partnering with Vermonters to improve lives and transform communities. GMP is focused on a new way of doing business to meet the needs of customers with integrated energy services that help people use less energy and save money, while continuing to generate clean, cost-effective and reliable power in Vermont. GMP is the first utility in the world to get a B Corp certification, meeting rigorous social, environmental, accountability and transparency standards and committing to use business as a force for good. In 2014, Vote Solar named GMP a Solar Champion. More information at: www.greenmountainpower.com. Connect with GMP on Facebook and follow us on Twitter @GreenMtnPower.

About Efficiency Vermont Efficiency Vermont is a statewide energy efficiency utility that helps all Vermonters to reduce energy costs, strengthen the local economy, and protect the environment by making homes and business energy efficient. Efficiency Vermont provides technical assistance, rebates, and other financial incentives to help Vermont households and businesses reduce their energy costs with energy efficient equipment, lighting, and approaches to construction and major renovation. For more information, contact Efficiency Vermont at 888-921-5990 or visit www.efficiencyvermont.com.